Testing method and testing structure for lighting display

ABSTRACT

A lighting testing method and a testing structure for a display device are provided. The method includes steps of providing a display panel comprising a lighting area, an anode connection area and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area includes a plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red, green and blue; utilizing a first insulation material to cover a first part of the composing units containing pixels with green and blue colors in a first part of the anode connection area; utilizing a second insulation material to cover a second part of the composing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a second part of the anode connection area; utilizing a third insulation material to cover a third part of the composing units containing pixels with red and green colors in a third part of the anode connection area; and forming a first, a second and a third cathode connection areas in the first, second and third parts of the anode connection area respectively so as to cover the first, second and third insulation materials and the composing units.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a testing method for lighting a displaydevice, and more particularly to a testing method and a testingstructure applicable to an active or passive display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the manufacturing process of a display device, when a displaypanel is produced and isn't yet to be connected with a driving IC, alighting test is usually conducted with regard to the pixels on thedisplay panel.

Please refer to FIG. 1(a), which is a top view showing the semi-finishedproduct of a display panel. In FIG. 1(a), the display panel 10 iscomposed of a lighting area 11 and an anode connection area 12. Thelighting area 11 includes a plurality of red pixels 13, green pixels 14and blue pixels 15. Moreover, when the display panel 10 is an activedisplay panel, the composing unit of the anode connection area 12 is adata line; and when the display panel 10 is a passive display panel, thecomposing unit of the anode connection area 12 is an ITO anode.

Currently, the prevailing lighting testing methods for pixels of thedisplay device include at least the following two types:

(1) Please refer to FIG. 1(b), which is a schematic view showing alighting testing method for a conventional display panel. As shown inFIG. 1(b), all the composing units within the anode connection area 12are electrically connected by means of an electrical connection device16 to perform a pixel-lighting test. The drawback of the method is thatall pixels are lit simultaneously because there is no electricalconnection among all composing units of the anode connection area 12 sothat the testing personnel fail to know the respective characteristic ofeach pixel color (red, green or blue) by the individual composing unit.

(2) Please refer to FIG. 1(c), which is a schematic view showing alighting testing method for another conventional display panel. Toimprove the shortcoming of the first method, the method adopted by FIG.1(c) manufactures and utilizes a plurality of one-to-one toolings 17.Each of the toolings 17 is electrically connected with each composingunit of the anode connection area 12 to perform the pixel-lighting test.Whereas, the drawback of this method is that the contact points for thedisplay panel 10 to electrically connect external parts tend to bedenser while the resolution of the display panel 10 is higher and thatthe toolings 17 must be made in smaller size. Besides, the toolings 17of different size are used for different display panels, therebysignificantly affecting the production cost control.

For overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, the present inventionbrings about an improved design of the lighting testing method for thedisplay device and the lighting test structure in light of the lightingtesting method provided by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a lightingtesting method for a display device is provided. The provided lightingtesting method includes steps of: providing a display panel including alighting area, an anode connection area and a plurality of composingunits, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area includesa plurality of pixels containing a color selected from a groupconsisting of red, green and blue; utilizing a first insulation materialto cover a first part of the composing units containing pixels withgreen and blue colors in a first part of the anode connection area;utilizing a second insulation material to cover a second part of thecomposing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a secondpart of the anode connection area; utilizing a third insulation materialto cover a third part of the composing units containing pixels with redand green colors in a third part of the anode connection area; forming afirst, a second and a third cathode connection areas in the first,second and third parts of the anode connection area respectively so asto cover the first, second and third insulation materials and thecomposing units; and providing an electric power to the first, secondand third cathode connection areas respectively to only illuminate thecomposing units containing pixels of the same color with respect to thelighting area of the cathode connection area.

Preferably, the composing units go through the lighting area and theanode connection area.

Preferably, the display panel is an active display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is a data line and each of thefirst, second and third cathode connection area is a scan line.

Preferably, the display panel is a passive display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is an anode.

Preferably, the first, second and third insulation materials are thesame.

Preferably, each of the first, second and third insulations materials isa bank material.

Preferably, the lighting testing method further includes a step ofseparating the lighting area from the anode connection area.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, alighting testing structure for a display device is provided. Theprovided lighting testing structure includes a display panel including:a lighting area; an anode connection area; and a plurality of composingunits, wherein each of the composing units in the lighting area has aplurality of pixels containing a color selected from a group consistingof red, green and blue, and the anode connection area comprises: a firstcathode connection area covering the composing units in a first part ofthe anode connection area, wherein a first insulation material layer islocated between the first cathode connection area and a first part ofthe composing units have pixels in green and in blue; a second cathodeconnection area covering the composing units in a second part of theanode connection area, wherein a second insulation material layer islocated between the second cathode connection area and a second part ofthe composing units have pixels in red and in blue; and a third cathodeconnection area covering every the composing units in a third part ofthe anode connection area, wherein a third insulation material layer islocated between the third cathode connection area and a third part ofthe composing units have pixels in red and in green.

Preferably, the composing units go through the lighting area and theanode connection area.

Preferably, the display panel is an active display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is a data line and each of thefirst, second and third connection areas is a scan line.

Preferably, the display panel is a passive display panel.

Preferably, each of the composing units is an anode.

Preferably, the first, second and third insulation material respectivelylayers comprise a bank material.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, a testingstructure for performing the lighting testing method of the first aspectis provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a top view showing the semi-finished product of a displaypanel;

FIG. 1(b) is a schematic view showing a testing method for lighting aconventional display panel;

FIG. 1(c) is a schematic view showing a testing method for lightinganother conventional display panel; and

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a testing method and a testing structurefor lighting a display device according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a top view showing a testing method anda testing structure for lighting a display device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. The display panel 20 iscomposed of a lighting area 21 and an anode connection area 22. Theanode connection area 22 includes a plurality of composing units 221 inparallel. The portion of each composing unit 221 located within thelighting area 21 has one of a red pixel 23, a green pixel 24 and a bluepixel 25.

The method of the present invention divides the composing units 221located within the anode connection area 22 into three parts, as shownin FIG. 2. Firstly, an insulation material 26, such as a bank material,is used to cover the composing units 221 of the portions containing thegreen pixel 24 and the blue pixel 25 of the first part on the top.Secondly, the insulation material 26 is used to cover the composingunits 221 of the portions containing the red pixel 23 and the blue pixel25 of the second part in the middle. Lastly, the insulation material 26is used to cover the composing units 221 of the portions containing thered pixel 23 and the green pixel 24 of the third part at the bottom.

In the end, a cathode metal is evaporated or other methods are performedto form the first cathode connection area 27, the second cathodeconnection area 28 and the third cathode connection area 29 which coverthe composing units 221 of the three parts (including the layer formedby the insulation material 26). The first cathode connection area 27corresponds to the composing units 221 containing the red pixel 23. Thesecond cathode connection area 28 corresponds to the composing units 221containing the green pixel 24. The third cathode connection area 29corresponds to the composing units 221 containing the blue pixel 24.

In the first cathode connection area 27, as the insulation material 26covers the composing units 221 containing the green pixel 24 and theblue pixel 25, if power is provided to the first cathode connection area27, it will only pass through the cathode metal to illuminate thecomposing units 221 containing the red pixel 23. However, the composingunits containing the green pixel 23 and the blue pixel 25 won't be litat all.

Likewise, in the second cathode connection area 28, as the insulationmaterial 26 covers the composing units 221 containing the red pixel 23and the blue pixel 25, if power is provided to the second cathodeconnection area 28, it will only pass through the cathode metal toilluminate the composing units 221 containing the green pixel 24.However, the composing units containing the red pixel 23 and the bluepixel 25 won't be lit at all.

By means of the aforementioned method, the objective of lighting thecomposing units 221 containing the pixels with a single color in thelighting test can be attained. Because the composing units containingthe red pixel 23, the green pixel 24 and the blue pixel 25 can be litindividually and independently in the lighting area 21, the lightingtest can be carried out to measure the characteristics of the displaypanel. After the lighting test is successfully completed, the displaypanel 20 is cut along the separation line 30 so as to separate thelighting area 21 and the anode connection area 22 and to obtain thedisplay panel 20 having the lighting area 21 only.

What worth mentioning is that the lighting testing method for thedisplay device can be applied not only to an active display panel butalso to a passive display panel. In the active display panel, thecomposing units 221 are data lines and the cathode connection areas27˜29 are scan lines; while in the passive display panel, the composingunits are anodes and the cathode connection areas 27˜29 are cathodematerials.

In sum, the present invention provides a testing method and structurefor lighting a display device. The method utilizes a bank material toconnect the composing units of the anode connection area free of thepixels with the targeting color, further forms a cathode connection areathereon, and subsequently provides power to the cathode connection areaso as to individually light up the composing units within the lightingarea having the pixels with the targeting color. The structure is thesemi-finished product of the display device in the production processwhile the lighting testing method is carried out.

By means of the lighting testing method and the lighting testingstructure for the display device of the present invention, the agingprocess can be carried out with different parameters configured inaccordance with different colors, which effectively enhances the productreliability of the display panel and avoids the transitional agingprocess condition.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention need not to be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

1. A lighting testing method for a display device, comprising steps of:providing a display panel comprising a lighting area, an anodeconnection area and a plurality of composing units, wherein each of saidplurality of composing units in said lighting area includes a pluralityof pixels containing a color selected from a group consisting of red,green and blue; utilizing a first insulation material to cover a firstpart of said plurality of composing units containing pixels with greenand blue colors in a first part of said anode connection area; utilizinga second insulation material to cover a second part of said plurality ofcomposing units containing pixels with red and blue colors in a secondpart of said anode connection area; utilizing a third insulationmaterial to cover a third part of said plurality of composing unitscontaining pixels with red and green colors in a third part of saidanode connection area; forming a first, a second and a third cathodeconnection areas in said first, second and third parts of said anodeconnection area respectively so as to cover said first, second and thirdinsulation materials and said plurality of composing units; andproviding an electric power to said first, second and third cathodeconnection areas respectively to only illuminate said plurality ofcomposing units containing pixels of the same color with respect to saidlighting area of said cathode connection area.
 2. The lighting testingmethod for a display device of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofcomposing units go through said lighting area and said anode connectionarea.
 3. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim 1,wherein said display panel is an active display panel.
 4. The lightingtesting method for a display device of claim 3, wherein each of saidplurality of composing units is a data line and each of said first,second and third cathode connection area is a scan line.
 5. The lightingtesting method for a display device of claim 1, wherein said displaypanel is a passive display panel.
 6. The lighting testing method for adisplay device of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of composingunits is an anode.
 7. The lighting testing method for a display deviceof claim 1, wherein said first, second and third insulation materialsare the same.
 8. The lighting testing method for a display device ofclaim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third insulationsmaterials is a bank material.
 9. The lighting testing method for adisplay device of claim 1 further comprising a step of: separating saidlighting area from said anode connection area.
 10. A lighting testingstructure for a display device, comprising: a display panel comprising:a lighting area; an anode connection area; and a plurality of composingunits, wherein each of said plurality of composing units in saidlighting area has a plurality of pixels containing a color selected froma group consisting of red, green and blue, and said anode connectionarea comprises: a first cathode connection area covering said pluralityof composing units in a first part of said anode connection area,wherein a first insulation material layer is located between said firstcathode connection area and a first part of said plurality of composingunits have pixels in green and in blue; a second cathode connection areacovering said plurality of composing units in a second part of saidanode connection area, wherein a second insulation material layer islocated between said second cathode connection area and a second part ofsaid plurality of composing units have pixels in red and in blue; and athird cathode connection area covering every said plurality of composingunits in a third part of said anode connection area, wherein a thirdinsulation material layer is located between said third cathodeconnection area and a third part of said plurality of composing unitshave pixels in red and in green.
 11. The lighting testing structure fora display device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of composing unitsgo through said lighting area and said anode connection area.
 12. Thelighting testing structure for a display device of claim 10, whereinsaid display panel is an active display panel.
 13. The lighting testingmethod for a display device of claim 12, wherein each of said pluralityof composing units is a data line and each of said first, second andthird connection areas is a scan line.
 14. The lighting testing methodfor a display device of claim 10, wherein said display panel is apassive display panel.
 15. The lighting testing method for a displaydevice of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of composing units isan anode.
 16. The lighting testing method for a display device of claim10, wherein said first, second and third insulation materialrespectively layers comprise a bank material.
 17. A testing structurefor performing said light testing method of claim 1.